Percy versus Neville (was : Re: Ron is like Percy ) (long...)

[Doriane]

No: HPFGUIDX 89452

"sophierom" wrote:

> So, just a few minutes ago, when I was reading through part of GOF, 
> I began to think a bit about the way Percy handles teasing versus 
> the way Neville handles it.

(snip)

> But, I was also struck by Neville's laugh. I don't think this makes 
> Fred and George's thoughtless, attention-getting antics any better; 
> but I certainly love Neville all the more for the way he's handled 
> the situation.  If Percy had been able to laugh at his own 
> embarrassing situations, even just once, I'd like Percy a bit more, 
> too. 

(snip)

> So, Percy may be a "victim" when it comes to Fred and George, but 
> he can't (or won't) use his embarrassing, sometimes painful, 
> experiences to make him a stronger person.  Neville also needs to 
> learn how to turn himself from a victim to a survivor (particularly 
> in Snape's class), but I think he's got the right idea when he 
> laughs at himself in genuinely silly situations like the canary 
> scene.  

Del comments :

Very nice analysis ! But you know what ? I feel the opposite way 
about Percy and Neville :-)
Neville reminds me of myself. When I was a teenager, I would always 
be the first one to laugh at myself, to make fun of myself, so that 
nobody else could do it first. I had pretty much no self-esteem, and 
I kept walking over myself. And when someone else did too, I would 
just pretend it was "tickling" me. I would never admit it was hurting 
me. And at the time, I would never have dreamed of demanding that 
someone stop doing something that hurt me. So when I read of Neville 
laughing in the face of abuse, or just dismissing things, I can't 
help but wonder if he does it because he truly doesn't care, or 
because he doesn't think he deserves any better anyway ? Somehow, I 
have a feeling the second option is right, especially when he 
introduces himself as "nobody" to Luna in OoP. And also the way he 
asks Hermione to the Yule Ball, because she's the only one who's 
always been nice to him so he doesn't have to fear a mocking 
refusal...
Percy, on the other hand, I admire. He dares standing for himself, 
for his right to be respected. He's not afraid of showing off when he 
does something right. He's not afraid to demand respect for his 
accomplishments and authority.

Sophierom :
 
> In many ways, it seems to me that Percy should have the self 
> confidence to laugh at himself a bit more.  Unlike Neville, he did 
> grow up with parents who have praised him (we see Neville's Gran 
> berating him for his forgetfulness, etc.); also unlike Neville, 
> he's been recognized as a great student (Percy was prefect then 
> headboy, and probably the top of his class in every course; Neville 
> is the laughing stock of Snape's potion class, probably mediocre in 
> most of his other classes, only doing well in Herbology).

Del answers :

Things are not always as simple as they seem.
It's true that Neville's Gran hasn't been exactly helpful. But there 
was Uncle Algie, who always believed in him, and keeps encouraging 
him.
On the other hand, Percy was ever only acknowledged and recognised as 
a good student and an obedient boy. He's imprisoned in his role of 
the Good Son, as someone else put it.

Sophierom :

> But, Percy can't laugh.  I think this must have something to do 
> with the fact that Fred and George are his own brothers ... that 
> Percy needs their approval more than he would a peer's.  But if I 
> could somehow use a time turner and speak to Percy when he was a 
> bit younger, I would have begged him to try laughing, just once, 
> when the twins poked fun at him.  Not only would he have been 
> stronger for it, but the twins proabably would have stopped picking 
> on him because they wouldn't have gotten the reaction they wanted.

Del answers :

It didn't make me stronger to learn to laugh at myself. In fact, it 
made me weaker. It was the ultimate acknowledgement of my 
worthlessness, to laugh at myself.
Not to mention that laughing at yourself never stops a bully from 
bullying you. They just go further and further in the bullying, until 
they get you to the point where you can't laugh anymore and start 
crying (I'm a girl :-).

Sophierom :

> At the very least, it could raise the question of why JKR wants us 
> to like certain characters over others ... and I really do believe 
> that in the end, she wants us to admire Neville (a butt of many 
> jokes) more than Percy (also the butt of jokes).  

Del answers :

Oh ! I've learned not to trust JKR anymore :-) She had us fear and 
hate Sirius for a whole book, before making us love him and designate 
him as one of our favorite characters, and then she killed him ! So...


Del